Strip stock feeding device



Dec. 2, 1969 1 FRANK ETAL 3,481,523

STRIP STOCK FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 13, 1967 .4 Sheets-Sheet l 2 y 6 Lw' I Dec. 2, 1969 1. FRANK ETAL STRIP STOCK FEEDING DEVICE .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15. 1967 Dec. 2, 196.9 .1. FRANK rAL STRIP STOCK FEEDING DEVICE .4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1967 INVENTORS ./05 EF F RA NK MAUR/CE M CL EME/V5 Dec. 2, 1969 J. FRANK am 3,481,523

STRIP STOCK FEEDING DEVICE Filed June l5, 1967 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS JOSEF FRA/VK MAUR/CE M CL EME/VS JOHN A. HUBER BERL YN E. BA//VGER 'United States Patent O 3,481,523 STRIP STOCK FEEDING DEVICE Josef Frank, Detroit, Maurice M. Clemons, Franklin, John A. Huber, Birmingham, and Berlyn E. Baringer, Southfield, Mich., assignors to U.S. Industries, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 13, 1967, Ser. No. 645,752 Int. Cl. B65h 17/26 U.S. Cl. 226-172 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to a strip stock feeding machine for feeding strip stock to a press, shears or the like, and more particularly to a strip stock feeding machine which incorporates a pair of endless track type feeding members and a controlled variable speed drive means for said track members.

The prior art gripper and roll type strip stock feeding machines have various disadvantages. The main disadvantage of a gripper feeder is the reciprocating movement of the feeding means, namely, the carriage with the grippers plus a drive-piston and piston rod. As a single cycle comprises a forward and a return stroke, the feed speed proper has to be considerably higher than with any unidirectionally operating feeder. Furthermore, the precision sequencing of the stationary retainer clamps, the feed cylinder and the grippers requires a number of directional and `flow control valves, limit switches andthe electrical means of controlling the valves. A further disadvantage is the required positioning changes for each stock width. Still another disadvantage is the physical length of the machine which is determined by the reciprocating means of feeding.

A disadvantage of the prior art roll type strip stock feeding machines is the stock clamping principle which comprises clamping the stock between two feed rolls that results in line contact only The unavoidable deection of -the feed rolls under pressure tends to exert higher pressures at the edges of the stock strip than in the middle of Vthe strip. The higher specific pressure of the rolls on the edges `of the stock strip can result in an 'elongation of the strip edges compared to the strip length in the middle of the strip. For this reason the stock strip will no longer be flat but will be provided with pronounced waves near the strip edges, in which shape the stock strip will be fed into the die or shear.

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved strip stock feeding machine which exerts the feeding force in and near the centerline of the strip stock so as to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art strip stock feeding machines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a track type strip stock feeding machine in which the gripping force required to feed the strip stock is exerted over a plurality of pressure areas of minimum pressure per square inch of -strip stock.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a track type strip stock feeding machine which may be ICC used for feeding various widths of strip stock material without requiring any change in the track apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved strip stock feeding machine which incorporates a pair of continuous track members adapted to engage the strip stock along the centerline of the same so that the machine may feed imperfect strip stock with accuracy and speed.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away and parts in section, of a track type strip stock feeding machine made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2--2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational section View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3 3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l, taken along the line 4-4 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5A is a continuation of the elevational section view of FIG. 5.

Referringnow to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. l, the numeral 10 generally indicates a machine base on which is mounted a housing generally indicated by the numeral 11. The numerals 12 and 13 generally indicate a first track set and a second track set, respectively, of endless track members. The track sets 12 and 13 are vertically aligned and each set is shown as comprising four separate tracks which are operatively mounted in sideby-side relationship. It will be understood that any number of tracks may be included in each track set 12 `and 13.

The numeral 14 generally indicates a variable speed hydraulic drive means for operating the track sets 12 and 13 through a power transmission system generally indicated by the numeral 15.

As shown in FIG. l, the lower track set 12 is xedly mounted on a horizontal housing wall 16, and disposed on opposite sides of the track set 12 are a plurality of horizontally disposed rollers 17 and 18. The rollers 17 and 18 are adapted to support strip stock 19 of various widths.

As best seen in FIG. l, the lower track set 12 includes a plurality of individual continuous tracks 22. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the tracks 22 comprises a continuous chain 23 on which is attached a plurality of workpiece gripping pads 24. Each of the chains 23 is operatively mounted around a pair of longitudinally spaced apart sprockets 25 and 26 which are xed to the shafts 27 and 28, respectively. The shafts 27 and 28 are rotatably journaled in suitable support brackets which are designated by the numeral 29.

The upper track set 13 includes a plurality of individual continuous tracks 30 (FIG. l), each of which comprises a continuous chain 31 (FIG. 4) on which is attached a plurality of workpiece gripping pads 32. Each of the chains 31 is operatively mounted around a pair of longitudinally spaced apart sprockets 33 and 34 which vare xed to the shafts 35 and 36, respectively. The shaft 35 is vertically aligned in a spaced apart position above the shaft 27, and the shaft 36 is similarly aligned above the shaft 28. The shafts 35 and 36 are rotatably journaled in suitable support brackets designated by the numeral 37. The support brackets 37 are xedly secured by any suitable means on a horizontal housing wall 38. Although a sprocket and chain means has been illustrated for carrying the driving pads 24 and 32, it will be understood that other endless means may also be used, as for example, an endless belt and a pair of pulleys for supporting the same.

The track sets 12 and 13 are provided with means for exerting pressure on the strip stock 19 for feeding purposes and for opening and closing the space between the two track sets for starting the strip stock 19 between the track sets. The track pressure means includes a lower bridge generally indicated by the numeral 39 in FIG. 5 and which is stationary and fixed to the housing wall 16. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower pressure bridge 39 includes the two vertical supporting legs 40 and 41 which are integrally connected between the upper ends thereof by the horizontal, transversely disposed beam 43 which carries a plurality of upwardly extended, spaced apart mounting plates 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical bridge leg 41 is secured to the housing wall 16 by any suitable means as by screws 42. The bridge leg 40 is similarly secured to the housing wall 16. Attached to each of the mounting plates 44 is a vertically disposed, longitudinally extended guide plate or bearing plate 45. The guide plates 45 are secured in place by any suitable means as by the machine screws 46. The guide plates 45 are adapted to bear against and support the moving chain tubular shaft members 47 so as to maintain a stationary support for the chains 23.

The upper track set 13 is provided with a similar pressure bridge 50 which is movably mounted. As shown in FIG. 5, the movably mounted upper bridge 50 includes the two vertical support legs 51 and 52 which are secured to the upper movable plate 6'7 by any suitable means as by the screws 54. The upper bridge 50 further includes the integral transverse beam 55 which is provided with the integral mounting plates 56 on which are mounted by the screws 58 the guide or bearing plates 57. The guide plates 57 bear against the chain tubular shafts 59 so as to maintain a downward pressure on the chains 31.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper movable bridge vertical leg 52 is guided during its upward and downward movements by the wear plates 60 which are secured to each of the outer sides of the leg 52 and which wear plates 60 bear against and slide on the Vertical wear plates 61 secured to the inner faces of the track shaft mounting support brackets 37. The bridge leg 52 is restrained against outward movement by the wear plates 62 which are secured to the support brackets 37 by the screws 63 and which bear against the outer faces of the wear plates 60. The other end of the movable bridge 50 is similarly supported.

As shown in FIG. 2, a suitable hydraulic or other type fluid motor or cylinder 64 is operatively mounted on the feeding machine on a pair of spaced apart supporting plates 65. The fluid motor rod or cylinder rod 66 extends downwardly and is secured to the plate 67 which is xedly secured to the movable bridge legs 51 and 52.

The track sets 12 and 13 are provided with track tightener means which are constructed in the following described manner. As shown in FIG. 5, a shaft 68 is swingably carried by the upper movable bridge 50. Freely rotatable on the shaft 68 are four sprockets which are adapted to engage the tracks 30 and maintain an upward bias thereon (FIG. 4). Each end of the shaft 68 is similarly mounted for swingable adjustment upwardly or downwardly, and the end mountings of the shaft 68 are illustrated in FIG. 4. Each end of the shaft 68 is supported in a pair of journal members 70 which are secured together and locked by the screws 71 in an adjusted position on the support shaft 72 which is carried by the bridge leg 52. It will be seen that the shaft 68 can thus be swung .4 about the shaft 72 to adjust it to various positions to maintain a tightening pressure on the tracks 30. The lower track set 12 is provided with a similar belt tightening means and the corresponding parts thereof have been marked with the same reference numerals, followed by the small letter a. The track tightening means for the lower track set 12 would be supported on the legs 40 and 41 of the lower stationary bridge 39.

The track shaft 28 for the lower track set 12 and the track shaft 36 for the upper track set 13 are idler shafts or driven shafts. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the shafts 28 and 36 has mounted on the outer end thereof a suitable brake means generally indicated by thehumerals 69 and 70 respectively. The brake means 69 and 70 may be of any suitable type, as for example, air operated brake means.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a, the track set drive shaft 27 is operatively connected by a suitable coupling 71 to a drive shaft 72. As shown in FIG. 5a, the drive shaft 72 is connected -by a suitable coupling 73 to the gear shaft 74 which extends outwardly through the housing wall 79 and into a gear box 81 where it is rotatably mounted by the bearing means 77 and 78 which are carried on the housing wall 79 and the gear box wall 80, respectively. The outer end of the drive shaft 72 has xed thereon the drive gear 82 which is meshed with and drives-the driven gear 83 that is mounted on the shaft 86. The gear shaft 86 is journaled on the bearing means S4 and 85 which are carried by the housing wall 79 and the gear box wall 80, respectively. The driven gear shaft 86 is connected by a suitable coupling 87 to the drive shaft 88 which is connected by a suitable coupling 89 to the drive shaft 35 of the upper track set 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drive shaft 72 is extended outwardly beyond the gear housing 81 and is operatively connected by a suitable clutch means 99, as `for example an air operated clutch, to the speed reducer shaft 101 which is rotatably supported by the mounting brackets 102 on the housing wall 76. Operatively mounted on the shaft 101 is a suitable speed reducer 103, as for example a planetary gear speed reducer, which is driven by the belts 104 that are driven by the pulley 105. The pulley 105 is operatively mounted on the shaft 106 which is supported on the plate 108 by the mounting plates 107. The shaft 106 is connected by the coupling means 109 to a suitable variable speed drive unit generally indicated by the numeral 110. The variable speed drive unit 110 may be of any suitable type, as for example, an adjustable speed hydraulic drive, sen/o controlled unit available on the market from Vickers, Inc., Maple and Crooks Roads, Troy, Mich., Model No. HAS.

The variable speed hydraulic control means 110 and the aforementioned brakes and clutch may be controlled by any suitable means, as for example, by a measuring device generally indicated by the numeral 111 which is operatively connected by the shaft 112 to the lower track set drive shaft 27. Any suitable measuring means used on strip stock feeding machines for measuring the amount of strip stock being fed through the machine may be used, as for example, a mechanical measuring device available on the market from Press Automation Systems, Inc., 3840 Easty Outer Drive, Detroit, Mich., Model No. 1, or any electronic digital counter systems available on the market from the Reliance Electric Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, or from the General Electric Co., or the Westinghouse Electric Co.

In use, the strip stock 19 is fed between the track sets 12 and 13 by operating the fluid cylinder 64 so as to open the tracks to permit the strip stock 19 to be fed therebetween. The fluid motor 64 is then operated to close the tracks and exert pressure on the strip stock for feeding purposes. The desired feed length is then set on the measuring device 111 and the feeding machine then feeds the desired length of strip stock 19 into the press, shears or other machine which is being fed by the strip stock feeding apparatus. After a predetermined time, towards the end of the feed cycle, the measuring device 111 provides a signal to slow-down the hydrostatic drive 110 and to apply the brakes 69 and 70. As the feeder is driven at this reduced speed, the measuring device 111 produces a second signal by which the clutch 99 is opened and the drive operationally separated from the drive shaft 72, whereby the feed cycle is terminated. During the working stroke of the press or shear, the measuring device 111 is internally reset for the next feed cycle. It will be understood that the measuring device 111 may be connected by any suitable pneumatic or fluid control circuit to the brakes 69 and 70, the clutch means 99 and the variable speed drive means 110, and that the feed lengths and time intervals may be selected as desired.

Experience has shown that the track feed machine of the present invention is adapted to feed accurately strip stock which may have geometric inaccuracies therein caused by residual stresses from slitting or original rolling. The conventional roll and grip type feeding machines exert the required holding pressure along the edges of the strip stock 19 but the machine of the present invention exerts the holding force in and near the center line of the strip stock 19, and the effect of any geometric inaccuracies in the strip stock is reduced to a minimum. It will also be understood that with the aforementioned brake, clutch and variable speed control means are adapted to control the acceleration and deceleration periods of a feeding cycle and that they may be predetermined and repeated accurately.

We claim:

1. A strip stock feeding machine for feeding strip stock to a strip stock processing machine, comprising:

(a) a first set of endless track means;

(b) a second set of endless track means disposed in spaced relation above said first set of track means and operative for gripping strip stock and feeding it to a strip stock processing machine;

(c) Ipower operated means for opening and closing the space between the track means and to create a pressure on the strip stock being fed by the track means; 1

(d) a variable speed drive means for driving said rst and second set of endless track means;

(e) power transmission system operatively interconnecting said iirst and second set of endless track means and variable speed drive means;

(f) said first set of endless track means including:

(1) a drive shaft and a longitudinally spaced apart driven shaft; and

(2) a plurality of endless track members operatively mounted about said drive and driven shafts;

(g) said second set of endless track means including:

(1) a drive shaft and a longitudinally spaced apart 55 driven shaft; and (2) a plurality of endless track members operatively mounted about said drive and driven shafts; and (h) said power transmission system being operatively connected to said drive shafts,

2. A strip stock feeding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each endless track member includes:

(a) a sprocket mounted on the drive Shaft and a sprocket mounted on the driven shaft;

(b) an endless chain mounted around said sprockets;

and

(c) a plurality of gripping pads attached to the chain for gripping engagement with the strip stock.

3. A strip stock feeding machine for feeding strip 10 stock to a strip stock processing machine, comprising:

(a) a rst set of endless track means;

(b) a second set of endless track means disposed in spaced relation above said first set of track means and operative for gripping strip stock and feeding it to a strip stock processing machine;

(c) means for opening and closing the space between the track means and to create a pressure on the strip stock being fed by the track means;

(d) a variable speed drive means for driving said first and second set of endless track means;

(e) power transmission system operatively interconnecting said first and second set of endless track means and Variable speed drive means;

(f) said rst set of endless track means including:

(l) a drive shaft and a driven shaft; and

(2) a plurality of endless track members operatively mounted about said drive and driven shafts;

(g) said second set of endless track means including:

(l) a drive shaft and a driven shaft; and

(2) a plurality of endless track members operatively mounted about said drive and driven shafts;

(h) said power transmission system being operatively connected to said drive shafts; and

(i) each of said endless track means driven shafts being provided with a brake means.

4. A strip stock feeding machine as defined in claim 3,

wherein:

(a) said power transmission system includes a clutch means operatively connected to said endless track means drive shafts; and

(b) a speed reducer means connected to said variable speed drive means.

5. A strip stock feeding machine as defined in claim 4,

including:

(a) measuring means operatively connected to said variable speed drive means and clutch and brake means for controlling the lengths of strip stock fed by the strip stock feeding machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,983,417 5/1961 Swanson 226-172 3,266,799 -8/1966 Ingalls 226-172 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner 

